Over the weekend, I diaried about Professor Robert G. Kaufman's remarkable statement that the GOP needs to "acquire another TV network" so that FOX isn't the only alternative source for the right. At the time of that diary, the C-SPAN webcast had been viewed 3 times. As of a short while ago, it had been viewed 44 times, the YouTube clip courtesy of tbetz had gotten over 2000 hits, and at least a dozen blogs had picked it up.
I'd like to reiterate that what we refer to as the right's "ownership" of FOX is not news. By contrast, however, Kaufman's very casual public pronouncement implying just that was stunning news indeed. Not for what he said, but the fact that he said it. Consequently, I emailed Kaufman (robert.kaufman@pepperdine.edu) and his "media staff" (ted.garcia@pepperdine.edu, christina.ramirez@pepperdine.edu) at Pepperdine University requesting clarification of his comments. A copy of my message is below.
Dear Professor Kaufman,
I write to inquire whether you might clarify remarks you made publicly on April 6, 2009, at the 61st Annual Conference on World Affairs, which seemed to suggest that the Republicans acquired, i.e., "own" the FOX network. On a panel entitled Rebranding Republicans: Don't Misunderestimate Us, you stated:
The fifth thing that Republicans have to do is understand the problem of communicating in a world where much of the television media, particularly, is hostile...If I had to recommend one single thing that the Republicans should be doing to help articulate the message, it is to acquire another television network so that there is not just FOX, but multiple sources of alternative information that will do a much better job than we did in 2008 to keep things honest.
Inasmuch as FOX has repeatedly denied any right-leaning bias, your remarks came as a bit of a surprise. I would be interested in any clarification or elaboration you might wish to provide.
Thank you for your time.
I'll post here if I receive a reply.
(Need I add that I'm not holding my breath?)
UPDATE: I just received the following reply from Kaufman:
Sure, I did not mean own as in party line, but I do mean a network sympathetic to the Repubican viewpoint, the way PBS, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS are philosophically of the other party.
I am sure you will not distort this to say that the Republican party owns Fox, because I did not say that. I mean a sympathetic network.
Also, you need to indentify yourself. I am very dubious that you did not.
I don't need to "distort" Professor Kaufman's statement, which speaks for itself. Merriam-Webster defines "acquire" thusly:
to get as one's own; to come into possession or control of, often by unspecified means.
Professor Kaufman is well-credentialled author and academic. Presumably, he chooses his words carefully. Freudian slips are another matter, of course, which may or may not be what this was.
I'm not sure what his last paragraph means. I did identify myself by my full name. I included no journalistic affiliation because none exists. Nonetheless, I did reply to clarify that while I am writing a story on media bias (I am), I am not affiliated with any news organization (I am not.) Following that clarification, I received yet another response from Professor Kaufman:
What I meant to convey was that conservatives should buy a Network..... I am an attorney, and will exercise my rights vigorously if you distort, libel, or slander my positin.
I don't know what Professor Kaufman "meant to convey." I merely quoted his actual words.